Meet a Chaplain - Carol Lewins

I made the decision to follow Jesus as a teenager. I went back to university as a mature aged student to become a qualified counsellor and then I did a course in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care. Although actively involved in my church, I asked the Lord for direction during my counselling studies and became very busy with voluntary work in chaplaincy administration at Carinity. I discovered a wonderful sense of belonging with the team of aged care and hospital chaplains. Positive feedback from staff and residents in my university placement and work in an aged care facility convinced me that God had a definite plan to use me in this ministry. I started as a chaplain at Carinity Brookfield in October 2014.

I work with a wonderful team at Brookfield who support me in my role as Chaplain, and the most rewarding experience I have is to provide pastoral care to so many wonderful people. This includes residents, staff, their families and friends. I never understood fully before what the scripture means "it is more blessed to give than to receive" until I found that the pastoral care I gave to others deepened my experience of God's love, peace and joy in my life beyond measure. "I have shown you in every way by labouring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” (Acts 20:35 NKJV).

It is my mission to promote the education and equipping of God’s people to be effective in ministry in the community in which they live and work. It is an awesome privilege and responsibility as Chaplains to bring hope, good news, healing and transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, among us and through us - essentially bringing the presence of God to the people we serve. Transformed lives are evident in residents who have come to us from a lonely existence and found friendship, excellent care and staff who respond to their spiritual, physical, emotional and practical everyday needs. Many people have told me they do not attend church but pray every night and acknowledge their faith in God as a source of strength and hope in their life.